Brecon Gaer Roman Fort

Powys, United Kingdom

Looking at its tranquil location in farmland near Brecon today, you’d never guess that Gaer was once one of the Romans’ largest inland forts and a vital link in the occupiers’ defensive network in Wales. Founded around AD 75, it was situated in a strategic position at the meeting point of two major roads and manned by highly trained legionaries of the Vettonian Spanish Cavalry Regiment.

In Roman times this was a busy site, with a large guardhouse, granary and heated bathhouse. Today you can see remains of a number of defensive towers, alongside two large gateways with walls standing 8ft/2.4m high in places.

References:

Comments

Your name



Address

Powys, United Kingdom
See all sites in Powys

More Information

cadw.gov.wales

Rating

3/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Michael Lloyd (17 months ago)
Can't get the fort the Farmers does not want you to access it
Richard Martin (2 years ago)
Next to impossible to access this site, so unfortunately wouldn't recommend. Not sure if the local landowner is receiving any kind of tax benefits for allowing access, but if he is then they should be withdrawn. It is sad that a private individual can make access to the country's past inaccessible.
Pete / Hel Havard (2 years ago)
Hard to get to as farmer has blocked the footpath styles with bard wire once you get to it very interesting
Peter Borenius (2 years ago)
For parking 4x4 only up the bridleway second gate on the right. Proceed down the field keeping hedge on your left, over the lower gate turn right. For such an important Roman staging post whose influence dominated south west Wales the access arrangements and Cadw signage are pitiful. Nevertheless a terrific site with some well preserved entrances including some of the best Roman gate pivot holes you'll see anywhere in the UK.
S Milne (4 years ago)
Powered by Google

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Historic Site of the week

Abbey of Saint-Georges

Saint-Georges de Boscherville Abbey is a former Benedictine abbey. It was founded in about 1113 by Guillaume de Tancarville on the site of an earlier establishment of secular canons and settled by monks from the Abbey of Saint-Evroul. The abbey church made of Caumont stone was erected from 1113 to 1140. The Norman builders aimed to have very well-lit naves and they did this by means of tall, large windows, initially made possible by a wooden ceiling, which prevented uplift, although this was replaced by a Gothic vault in the 13th century. The chapter room was built after the abbey church and dates from the last quarter of the 12th century.

The arrival of the Maurist monks in 1659, after the disasters of the Wars of Religion, helped to get the abbey back on a firmer spiritual, architectural and economic footing. They erected a large monastic building one wing of which fitted tightly around the chapter house (which was otherwise left as it was).